BARNSTABLE——
Revival Of A Great Cape Cod
Tradition Is Taking Place
In Hyannis Village
In olden days New England’s great clipper ships had a world reputation. Fortunes of the American merchant marine were at the crest in the 1850’s, when, also, Cape Cod’s memorable pageant of clippers and stalwart shipmasters were in full lustre—notably, the famous Red Jacket, which made the record crossing of the Atlantic on her maiden voyage in 13 days and one hour.
Today the spirit of this great tradition is revived here with a new, even more widespread, sort of drama. The historic Massachusetts Maritime Academy has established a “permanent shore base” at Hyannis, Cape Cod, to school officers for wartime duty in our merchant marine and Navy and—after the war—to train young men for technical jobs at sea or ashore.
This is definitely the most newsworthy and promising wartime development in Cape Cod affairs.
OLD SEAFARER GIVES ADVICE
The 100th class of this old school which had its beginning in the era of wooden ships and iron men was graduated in 1944 with colorful and impressive ceremonies. A full dress drill by a battalion of midshipmen on the Academy parade grounds provided a stirring scene for some 500 fathers and mothers and relatives. The graduating class was the largest in the 51 years of the institution. Governor Saltonstall, Rear Admiral Robert A. Theobald, U.S.N., Commandant of First Naval District, and other notables bid Godspeed and counselled the new officers who were to join Academy comrades scattered over the world in all theatres of the war.
Particularly interesting was the meaty advice Admiral Theobald offered the new officers out of his own 40-odd years of seafaring experience. He said:
“You’re going to have to spend endless days and months in the sameness of only a cloudless sky above you and a smooth sea beneath you. Don’t get in a seagoing rut. Get an avocation as soon as you can. I would suggest that you develop the habit of doing heavy reading on international relations. Your nation is in the middle of world politics now and will never recede again from world relationships.”
“We, as a nation, have been too prone to accept the notion that other nations have the same psychological reactions as ours. You will find it a very interesting avocation to get books and study other people of the world. You must go back to find out what makes them tick. And, also, this reading will enable you to determine whether your own statesmen are doing a good job.”
He made a point of impressing the graduates that a man in war never gets over fear. In a crisis of danger they would be afraid the first time, and the hundredth time, although each time they would learn more of what to expect.
GOVERNOR SEES FUTURE
Governor Saltonstall spoke of America’s plans for a great merchant marine fleet, and said, “I congratulate you on the opportunities that lie ahead of you.”
Capt. Walter K. Queen, U.S.N.R., Ret., chairman of the Academy’s board of commissioners, announced that the total number of Massachusetts lads trained for officer duty since the Academy was founded now was 2,277. In keeping with a long-time custom, the Boston Marine Society, established in 1742 and the oldest marine society in the world, presented its prize to Vincent Francis Leahy of Brookline as “the graduate excelling in those qualities making for the best shipmaster.” Prizes were presented also to other outstanding students by the Society of the War of 1812 and the Massachusetts State Society.
Cape Cod, pioneered by men of the sea, is an appropriate setting for a modern school of shipmasters. The future looks extremely promising and the Academy, hardly established on the new site, is steadily expanding. Its erstwhile students are in the thick of action in this war, and many of them saw the worst of it while “delivering the goods” to Murmansk. Some have been killed, some wounded and some decorated for valor.
Cape Cod and New England at large will hear much about the Massachusetts Maritime Academy as time goes on, for the signs point to increasing heights of achievement by the American merchant marine after peace is won.
Capt. Claude O. Bassett, U.S.N.R., is the Academy superintendent. A mild and good-humored veteran and thoroughly schooled and seasoned in the profession of the sea.